From Student to Professional: Leveling Up Your LinkedIn Account

Do you want to level up your LinkedIn account? With these tips and tricks you will be able to bring your LinkedIn up to a whole new level!

LinkedIn, though a somewhat challenging platform to navigate, is a must for job seekers, networkers, and understanding your industry of interest. Once you conquer the ins and outs of the LinkedIn platform, you can harass its power to help you as you grow from a student to a professional.

First thing to understand in developing your LinkedIn is it is not a place to post your fun weekend out with friends. It is a place to build yourself as creditable in your field of interest and industry. This is a place to dive into your future profession.

1. Start with the Basics: A Professional Profile

· Profile Picture: Choose a clear, professional photo—bright, approachable, and focused on your face. Do not use your high school graduation photo or a cut out of a picture with friends. The Career Services Center at Texas State University is available to take headshots for free. The headshot booth is located on the fifth floor of the LBJ Student Center. 

· Headline: Do not say “Student at Texas State University.” No one is hiring you to be a student. Instead, showcase what you do or what you’re aiming for, like: “Skilled in Social Media & Digital Storytelling.” Take a strengths quiz like Strength Finders to identify top strengths. As an example, are you a collaborator, strategist, creator? Add words like that to your headline. Also, if you have started your own business, no matter how small, put small business owner or entrepreneur.

· About Section: Use this space to introduce yourself with confidence. Highlight your passions, skills, and career goals in 3 to 4 sentences. Third or first person will do.

2. Highlight Experience and Real Experience

Employers understand you’re just starting out. What matters is how you frame your experiences. Keep in mind that employers are not hiring you to be a taskmaster, but to bring skills to the table and to do a good job. They don’t want just anybody; they want a skilled professional at any job you are applying for.

· Part-time Jobs & Internships: Frame them in terms of transferable skills. Instead of “Fast Food Cashier,” say: “Managed financial transactions with accuracy while providing excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment.”

· Volunteer work is still work: Don’t underestimate the skills you’ve acquired while volunteering. Let’s say you helped your church update their website with events and activities every month. You can honestly say you have updated a website! Being paid does not increase the level of skill you acquired.

3. Build Credibility with Skills & Endorsements

· Add 5–10 key skills that align with your career goals (e.g., Data Analysis, Event Planning, Public Speaking, Web Design, etc.)

· Ask classmates, professors, or internship supervisors to endorse your skills or write a recommendation on your profile. In return, endorse and write a recommendation on theirs.

4. Expand Your Network Intentionally

· Start by connecting with classmates, professors, and supervisors.

· Follow well-known experts in your field of interest. You might not be able to connect with them, but they might post content that you can share.

· Connect with guest speakers, mentors, and alumni you meet at events. Always send a short, personal note when sending a connection request.

· Engage, don’t just scroll. Like, comment, and share posts to stay visible in your network. The algorithm for LinkedIn actually tracks your likes and shares and then identifies related content within that field to highlight for you, which will extend your network.

5. Share Your Voice

Students who stand out on LinkedIn are the ones who share their journey. Post about:

· Events you’ve attended and what you took away.

· Achievements like completing certifications or presenting research.

· Share articles, stories, and podcasts of industry related events and people that you find interesting.

Consistency helps you build a reputation as someone actively growing and learning.

6. Transitioning into the Professional World

A good rule of thumb is to update your LinkedIn profile at the end of every semester. You might have volunteered at a big event that gave you public speaking experience in your freshman year and if you wait until you are applying to real world jobs to update your profile at the end of your senior year, you might forget that experience.

· End of Semester Experience Updates: Add internships, freelance projects, volunteer work, or part-time roles that connect to your desired field.

LinkedIn isn’t just a digital résumé—it’s your professional reputation online. Start early, be authentic, and grow your profile step by step. By graduation, you won’t just be another student searching for opportunities, you’ll already be a professional with a network, a story, and a presence that speaks for itself.

To learn more about leveling up your LinkedIn profile attend:

• Wednesday, September 3, LinkedIn Workshop with Quinn Valentine, Director of the CIE, from 5-6 p.m.

Located in the CIE Gathering Space on the third floor of Alkek Library, Quinn will teach you the tips and tricks in leveling up your LinkedIn profile. 

By attending this event you will be eligible to compete for a share of $1,000 in prize money. First place will obtain a prize of $500. 

For more information about the CIE events and activities, check out our upcoming events.

Or contact Quinn Valentine, Director of the CIE, quinn.valentine@txstate.edu or Kendall Perkinson, CIE Program Coordinator, kendallperkinson@txstate.edu. 

Follow us on all our socials - LinkedIn and Instagram. To find our events list, visit our linktr.ee for a full list of events.